Tilapia sightings recorded at Gooseponds

They compete with native fish for food and habitat and are known for aggressive behaviour.

For anglers, this means popular fishing spots are often destroyed due to an invasion of tilapia and destruction of habitat.

Cr Karen May said council had participated in regular educational and fishing events at the Gooseponds to increase awareness around the issue.

“Tilapia are well-established in the Gooseponds catchment,” she said.

“When tilapia become established in a system, they are virtually impossible to eradicate.

“We have already carried out predatory trials by releasing barramundi to hunt the pest fish species as well as employing electrofishing to help control numbers.

“Unfortunately, this has been largely ineffective as tilapia breed at a much faster rate than can be controlled.”

Council has also undertaken projects to improve conditions at the Gooseponds for native fish, such as barramundi, including building a series of log fish hotels and installing oxygenation fountains in the most upstream pond of the Gooseponds to try and eliminate low oxygen-induced fish kills.

There is also signage at the Gooseponds, which displays key information regarding Tilapia and their impacts.